PS 
3545 


HARVEY  M.  WATTS 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


"OVER   THERE" 


"OVER  THERE" 

POEMS  OF  APPRECIATION,  CON 
SOLATION  AND  INDIGNATION 


BY 


HARVEY  M.  WATTS,  A.M.,  Litt.D. 

Author  of  "The  Wife  of  Potiphar,  with  Other  Poems,"  "The 
Faith  of  Princes,!.'  "Lux  Erat,"  "Pennsylvania,"  Etc. 


PHILADELPHIA 

THE  JOHN  C.  WINSTON  COMPANY 
1917 


Reprinted  from  the  public  prints, 
Vigilantes  files,  etc.,  in  which  they 
appeared  as  the  occasions  giving 
nse  to  them  called  for. 


Copyright,  1917,  by 
HARVEY  M.  WATTS 


PS 


CONTENTS 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

"Over  There!" 7 

GOING  AWAY 

As  to  Those  Who  Go! 11 

Packing  Up 13 

At  the  Station J4 

Reveille 15 

Taps 16 

Somewhere  in  France 17 

To  the  Aviators 18 

FESTIVAL  DAYS 

Memorial  Day,  1917 23 

At  Independence  Hall 24 

The  Celebration,  July  Fourth,  1917 25 

IN  THE  KAISER'S  HONOR 

In  the  Kaiser's  Honor! 29 

The  Were-Wolf 30 

The  Exemplar 31 

The  Bayonet  Practice  at  Plattsburg 32 

His  VICTIMS 

Nurse  Cavell — Martyr! 35 

The  Lusitanians 36 

The  Red  Cross! 37 

15] 

904144 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

In  Belgium! 38 

To  France 40 

To  Venice! 41 

To  Germany 42 

To  THOSE  AT  REST 

The  Roll  of  Honor! 45 

In  Memoriam 46 

"  Ordinary  Seamen  " 47 

"Going  West" 48 


[6] 


OVER  THERE! 


"OVER  THERE!" 

SOME  day  we'll  join  them  over  there  and  know 
The  haunting  secret  that  lights  up  their  face, 
Giving  their  humblest  act  a  touch  of  grace 
As  if  all  saw  the  vision  in  the  glow 
Of  Heaven  ajar,  as,  lo,  they  cry  "We  go 
Comrades  in  arms  of  those  who  set  the  pace, 
Ready  to  fall  if  they  but  win  the  race 
Ere  tyranny  shall  strike  the  fateful  blow." — 
Some  day!    Ah,  yes,  the  long  way  over  there 
We  too  shall  tread  since  they  have  gladly  gone 
As  pioneers  and  paid  the  final  toll! 
So  fear  we  not,  as  if  in  dull  despair, 
To  face  with  them  the  bright  unending  dawn, 
Lest  saving  life  we  lose  all  else,  the  soul ! 


[7] 


GOING    AWAY 


AS   TO   THOSE   WHO   GO! 


AS  TO  THOSE  WHO  GO! 

THEY  say  that  those  who  go  away 
Are  nevermore  the  same; 
Something  is  added  that  uplifts 
Above  your  praise  or  blame. 

Gayly  they  say  farewells  and  go, 

Gayly  perform  their  tasks; 
That  duty  square  the  old  account 

With  honor  is  all  they  ask. 

The  very  insolence  of  Youth 

Is  in  their  every  gait; 
Joyous  they  ask  for  service,  give 

Full  hostages  to  Fate. 

In  the  dark  scheme  of  muddled  things 
They  cast  their  shining  spear, 

Themselves  the  very  sacrifice 
Yet  free  from  coward  fear. 

And,  as  in  all  the  ages  past, 
They  crowd  in  quickened  years 

The  essence  of  heroic  deeds 
Nor  ask  your  meed  of  tears. 


[il 


AS   TO   THOSE   WHO   GO! 


But  those  who  wait  the  long  return 

Know  that  for  e'er  and  all 
The  "first  fine  rapture's"  gone  from  life 

Gone,  gone,  beyond  recall. 

They  say  that  those  who  go  away 

Are  nevermore  the  same; 
Haloed  in  life,  or  death,  they  stand 

Above  all  praise  or  blame. 


[12] 


PACKING   UP 


PACKING  UP 

THESE  are  his  things,  his  clothes,  his  kit,  his 
shoes, 
In  haste  selected  at  the  sudden  call 
When  he  himself  gave  up  his  chance,  his  all, 
That  greater  treasure  he  might  never  lose; 
Honor  and  faith  in  country — What!  refuse 
To  quit  the  discipline  of  storied  hall? 
To  yield  up  cloying  pleasures  sure  to  pall? 
No,  no;  this  sacrifice  he  could  but  choose! 
O  patriot  lad,  so  keen  to  play  your  part 
In  these  unstained  habiliments  of  war, 
We,  who  must  wait,  salute  you  through  our 

tears, 

Knowing  such  free  devotion,  head  and  heart, 
To  world  in  travail  can  alone  restore 
Hope  for  the  present  and  the  future  years! 


[13] 


AT    THE    STATION 


AT  THE  STATION 

WE  watch  him  go  till  he  is  out  of  sight, 
Yet  catch  the  last  gay  wave  of  friendly 

hand 

Above  the  crowd;  and,  while  the  blare  of  band 
Is  in  our  ears,  we  turn;  the  garish  light, 
The  station  noise,  are  lost — just  as  one  might 
Of  sudden  find  things  blank :  And  so  we  stand 
Irresolute,  as  he,  at  shrill  command 
Of  bugle,  goes  into  the  deepening  night! 
Yet  we  who  long  have  waited,  labored,  know 
The  bright  escutcheon  of  his  soul  is  clear, 

Ready  in  body,  duty  but  the  guide! 
So  wherefore  shrink  as  if  to  ward  the  blow? 
Service  is  asked  of  all,  out  on  chill  fear, 
Nor  hamper  him  exalted  in  his  pride! 


14 


REVEILLE 


REVEILLE 


'""]  F^HE  reveil!6  across  the  sun-touched  field 

Gives  "taps"  to  song  of  cheerful  birdling 

choir 

Vocal  since  dawn;  as  smoke  of  kindled  fire 
Sifts  lazily,  to  early  duties  steeled 
The  camp  wakes  up,  its  bustling  streets  revealed 
Seething  with  eager  youth,  freed  from  desire 
Of  old-time  ease,  nor  fearing  lest  they  tire 
Of  daily  grind  they  full  obedience  yield. 
And,  lo,  the  steady  tread  of  many  feet, 
Striking  the  ground  in  ringing  unison, 
The  stalwart  poise  in  serried  discipline, 
Tell  of  a  land  thrilled  to  remotest  mete, 
Facing  the  mighty  task  still  to  be  done; 
The  nation  to  a  man  in  step  and  line! 


[15] 


TAPS 


TAPS 

^  •  ^HE  stars  are  near,  the  tardy  moon  a  friend 

Whose  mystic  shadows  trail  the  dim  parade, 
The  night  lights  gleam,  the  songs  rise  from 

the  glade 

And  jest  and  jollity  and  play  attend, 
While  touch  of  music  when  strong  voices  blend 
Gives  benediction,  as,  drawn  out,  delayed, 
The  slow  arpeggios,  sadly,  softly  played, 
Bring  work  and  duties  to  their  happy  end. 
Oh,  that  to  all  might  come  this  bid  to  rest! 
Rest  after  toil  is  o'er,  the  work  achieved; 
Symbol  of  last  appeal,  heartfelt  and  deep, 
To  those  who,  open-eyed,  give  of  their  best 
And  freely,  too — calm,  brave  and  undeceived — 
Nor  fear  the  silence,  nor  life's  long,  long  sleep! 


[16] 


SOMEWHERE    IN   FRANCE 


S' 


SOMEWHERE  IN  FRANCE 

"^OMEWHERE   in  France"   they'll  bivouac 

'neath  the  sky, 
As  poplared  roads  lead  straightway  to  the 

front 
Where  the  scarred  towns  have  borne  the  frightful 

brunt 

Of  gun  and  mine;  and  all  things  open  lie, 
A  cratered  desert,  grim,  where  none  may  ply 

The  trades  of  Peace ;  but,  used  to  death,  full  blunt, 
From  trench  to  trench  the  hidden  foe  must  hunt, 
Giving  no  quarter  as  they  sullen  fly! 
"Somewhere  in  France" — This  is  the  only  hope 
To  save  from  those  who  batten  on  the  slain, 
To  meet  the  menace  of  this  armored  might — 
Where  Joan  was  victor  they  must  more  than  cope, 
Or  else  the  rumbling  tocsin  sounds  in  vain, 
And  all  that  man  achieved  sinks  into  night! 


17] 


TO    THE   AVIATORS 


TO  THE  AVIATORS 

VICTORY  o'er  all  the  ways  of  air 
And  menace  of  the  trackless  main, 
Is  to  the  men  who  do  and  dare 
In  driven  plane! 

Above  the  rugged  rind  of  earth, 
Above  the  toiling  mists  of  cloud, 

With  triple  courage  for  their  girth, 
They  move,  uncowed! 

For,  lo,  as  graceful  birds  they  soar, 
Cutting  the  blue  on  easy  wing; 

Audacious,  as  the  motors  roar, 
They  have  their  fling! 

Whate'er  the  rudder's  incidence, 

With  head  reversed  to  ground  or  sky, 

Battling  with  hostile  elements, 
Gayly  they  fly! 

And  where  the  rule  of  fiery  Mars 

Calls  to  a  service  peril-fraught, 
As  Mercuries,  proud  of  their  scars, 

They  rival  thought! 

[181 


TO   THE  AVIATORS 


And,  battling  in  the  dizzy  height, 
They  strike  to  save  a  world  in  fee 

Of  "Frightf ulness,"  hate  black  as  night, 
And  cruelty! 

And  though  Death  lurks  in  every  thrill, 
In  every  heart-beat  of  the  plane; 

All  undeterred  they  pit  their  skill, 
And  not  in  vain! 

This  is  the  way  of  pioneers, 

The  way  of  men  who  do  and  dare, 

Who,  rising  through  the  coward  fears, 
Conquer  the  air! 


[19] 


FESTIVAL   DAYS 


MEMORIAL   DAY 


MEMORIAL  DAY— 1917 

AL  those  about  to  serve  anew  salute, 
Near  the  green  mounds  of  those  who  won  a 
name, 

With  deeper  ardor,  prouder  of  the  fame 
That  tells  of  old-time  valor,  not  of  brute, 
Nor  stirred  by  hope  of  self,  whose  deeds  confute 
The  coarse  abuse  of  ravening  Huns,  who  claim 
In  fee  of  blood  and  ruin  tribute;  blame 
All  people  as  they  seize  the  world  for  loot. 
Not  such  the  memories  of  this  holy  day, 

Not  such  the  wish  of  those  who  bravely  planned 
For  millions  freed,  a  country  unified; 
So  we,  not  moved  by  lust  to  idly  slay, 

Loosing     the    sword    that    wrong     fore'er     be 

banned, 
Laurel  again  these  pioneers  who  died ! 


[23] 


AT    INDEPENDENCE    HALL 


AT  INDEPENDENCE  HALL 
THE  RALLY  TO  THE  FLAG- 
MARCH  31,  1917 

NOT  for  brute  conquests  meet  these  hosts 
today, 
Nor  that  gross  Might  upon  the  weak  should 

tread, 

Gloating  with  pride  o'er  trenches  heaped  with  dead, 
Dire  toll  of  those  who,  ruthless,  seek  their  way, 
Deaf  to  all  tears  and  voice  of  those  who  pray, 
For  simple  chance  to  live,  the  boon  of  bread, 
Crushed  'neath  the  wrack  of  war,  blood  drenched 

with  dread, 

Shrinking  from  horrors  that  no  hand  may  stay — 
No,  no;  these  come,  in  brave  enmillioned  state, 
To  offer  service  at  this  olden  shrine, 
Eager  to  hear  Columbia's  clarion  call 
'Gainst  Craft  enthroned;  to  Freedom  consecrate, 
As,  floating  to  the  wind,  a  Heaven-sent  sign, 
Unfurled  for  Right,  the  Flag  is  over  all ! 


THE   CELEBRATION 


THE  CELEBRATION— JULY  FOURTH, 
1917 

ONCE  more  the  bells  give  tongue  to  liberty, 
Proclaim  once  more  the  equal  rights  of  man, 
The  fall  of  tyrants,  time's  fulfilled  plan, 
As  patriots  in  new  brotherhood  would  free 
All  nations  from  the  fanged  autocracy, 
Whose  minions  from  the  blood-stained  barriers  scan 
Chimaera-like  the  lands  still  'neath  their  ban, 
In  sodden  slavery  by  fell  decree! 
Yea,  this  fair  day  must  sound  the  deeper  note, 
Intone  new  antiphon  of  world  in  arms, 
With  nobler  purpose  every  one  imbue; 
And,  as  o'er  land  and  sea  the  colors  float 
And  yeomen  press  to  war  despite  alarms, 
O  let  the  greater  future  rise  in  view! 


[25] 


IN  THE   KAISER'S  HONOR 


IN  THE  KAISER'S  HONOR! 


IN  THE  KAISER'S  HONOR! 

"Monstrum  horrendum,  informe,  ingens,  cui 
lumen  ademptum." 

Virgil,  Aeneid,  Book  III 
PARAPHRASE 

A  MONSTER  bloated  with  the  pride  of  race, 
From  whom  the  light  has  lo,  been  ta'en  away, 
Bereft  of  vision;  as  to  heart,  no  trace; 
In  form,  a  man;  in  acts,  a  beast  of  prey! 


129] 


THE    WERE-WOLF 


THE  WERE-WOLF 

IF,  lo,  the  fang  that  drips  could  voice  its  glee, 
The  slunk  hyena  cry  its  frightfulness, 
The  jackal  speak,  with  glutted  tongue  confess 
Its  midnight  deed;  none,  none  could  be  more  free 
Than  this  stark  Hun  whose  cloak  of  majesty 
Is  but  th'  imperial  shroud  of  those  who,  less 
Than  ravening  beasts,  gloat  as  cadavers  press; 
Praise  God  that  blood  may  redden  all  the  sea! 
At  large!     Unmasked!     Let  every  patriot  rise, 
Forswear  the  sloth,  indifference  of  the  past; 
Strengthen  the  bulwarks  and  with  vision  scan 
The  far  horizon  where  the  menace  lies; 
Strike  to  secure — ere  falls  the  baleful  blast — 
Honor  and  olden  faith  'tween  man  and  man! 


[so] 


THE    EXEMPLAR 


THE  EXEMPLAR 

(The  Minister  of  Public  Instruction  has  suggested 
that  the  Kaiser  be  held  up  as  an  exemplar  to  all  the 
school  children  in  the  empire. — Cable  dispatch.) 

BEFORE    these   innocents    they    would    o'er- 
praise 

This  madman  who  has  sacrificed  to  Thor 
His  hecatombs  to  glut  his  thirst  for  war; 
Thinking  in  red,  who  finds  his  "day  of  days" 
When  the  swift  bomb  from  aircraft  sudden  slays 
The  babes  at  matins;  eager  counts  the  score, 
Gloats  o'er  the  slain,  unsated  asks  for  more 
As  the  whole  world  looks  on  in  stark  amaze. 
Exemplar?     Then  revile  the  good  and  great, 
Exalt  the  monsters,  give  them  sure  requite, 
Mock  Christ  again,  bow  to  the  Tetrarch's  nod, 
Praise  ye  the  vile  forever  execrate, 
In  sheerest  paradox  let  black  be  white, 
Nero  a  saint,  Caligula  a  god ! 


[31 


THE  BAYONET  PRACTICE  AT  PLATTSBURQ 


THE  BAYONET  PRACTICE  AT 
PLATTSBURG 

THESE  wisps  of  rags,  these  fascines,  men  of 
straw, 
These  shapeless  things  on  which  they  vent 

their  will, 

Gaining  perfection  in  the  hideous  drill, 
Stand  for  the  enemy  that  knows  no  law, 
Whose  faith  enfesters  with  the  poisoned  flaw, 
Enshambling  nations  that  he  may  fulfill 
His  own  red  boast  of  Cesar's  power  to  kill 
In  savagery,  with  life  cut  to  the  raw. — 
So  shrink  not  from  the  thrust,  there's  no  remorse 
For  those  who  strike  the  were-wolf  in  its  lair, 
Or  crush  th'  envenomed  brood  of  cruelty. 
But  oh,  that  he,  the  marplot,  in  his  corse 
Should  expiate  these  sodden  crimes  laid  bare; 
A  black  oblation  for  a  world  set  free! 


[32J 


HIS  VICTIMS 


NURSE    CAVELL MARTYR! 


NURSE   CAVELL— MARTYR! 

"Have  Pity  on  Her"— Brand  Whitlock. 

BOUND  to  the  service  of  her  kind  in  need, 
Her  ministries  knew  naught  of  friend  or  foe; 
Throughout  the  wards  soft  blessings  come  and 

go 

Where'er  her  footsteps,  quick  with  mercy,  lead. 
Simple  her  faith  and  simple,  too,  her  creed: 
"Bind  up  the  wounded  and  My  hungry  feed." 
This  is  her  record;  'gainst  which  high  and  low 
In  vain,  with  brute  aspersions,  aim  their  blow, 
Seeking  excuses  for  insensate  deed! 

Aye !  ask  for  pity !  though  the  minions  laugh 
And  hi  derision  flout  the  fond  appeals, 
Glutting  their  hate  on  corse  so  foully  slain! 
Though  all  the  world  this  bitter  cup  must  quaff, 
Fearless  tell  all  and  place — as  truth  reveals — 
Upon  th'  imperial  brow  the  brand  of  Cain! 


[35 


THE    LUSITANIANS 


THE  LUSITANIANS 

WHO  loosed  this  terror  of  the  hidden  deep, 
Dastards  that    strike    where    none    have 
raised  a  hand? 

Whose  was  the  word  that  gave  the  foul  command, 
The  heart  the  heart  that  knows  no  pity,  but  would 

sweep 

All,  all  before  as  refuse,  and  would  steep 
All  souls  in  hatred  through  the  servile  land? 
Enthroning  craft,  all  things  of  honor  banned, 
Whose  is  the  sowing  where  but  Death  may  reap? 

Monster!  who  wars  on  helpless  innocence, 
Blind  and  insensate  is  thy  lust  for  power, 
Already  have  the  Fates  set  out  thy  name! 
Add  to  thy  laurels,  shrink  from  no  offense, 
Let  all  the  flags  proclaim  thy  hectic  hour; 
Aye,  share  with  Herod  his  appointed  shame! 


[36] 


THE   RED    CROSS! 


THE  RED   CROSS! 

(The  attacks  of  the  Germans  on  the  ambulance 
headquarters,  hospital  ships  and  base  hospitals  have 
constituted  one  of  the  ghastly  features  of  the  war  in 
Europe.) 

UNDER  the  cross  of  red,  love's  ambuscade 
Of  mercy,  there  they  seek  their  own,  nor  ask 
For  ease  of  labor;  e'er  the  bitter  task 
Compels  and  holds,  free  from  the  gay  parade, 
As  all  that  skill  compassioned  has  of  aid 
Is  at  their  call,  sure  help  and  healing  flask. 
Safe  once  as  neophytes  enchurched  at  Pasque 
And  innocent  as  they,  they  plied  their  trade — 
Till  lo!  the  Hun,  of  carrion  birth,  all  ghoul, 
Vulture  in  kind  and  harpy  in  his  play, 
The  kindly  skies  with  blackest  deeds  would  fret; 
Like  dour  Apollyon,  breaking  Heaven's  rule 
With  act  unlawful — But  he  will  repay, 
For  Christ  recrucified  will  triumph  yet! 


[37] 


IN  BELGIUM! 


IN  BELGIUM! 

(The  Germans  are  letting  the  Belgian  exiles,  weak 
ened  by  their  privation  in  the  industrial  camps,  go  home 
to  die. — News  dispatch.) 

WHAT  is  this  wail  of  the  Flemish  leas, 
Sounding  across  the  unkindly  seas, 
Heard,  though  the  carillons  are  mute? 
What  is  this  moan,  as  of  helpless  brute 
Westward  turning,  with  straining  eye? 
"Home  to  die!    Home  to  die!!" 

Who  are  these  wastrels  who  tread  the  snows, 
Shivering,  unclad,  as  the  raw  wind  blows, 
Shrinking  before  the  conqueror's  lust, 
Man  and  maiden  fearing  the  thrust 
Of  bayonet,  as  they  turn  to  fly? 
"  Home  to  die !    Home  to  die ! ! " 

The  famished  who  seek  what  others  drop, 
Mere  husks  from  trough?     Whose  is  the  sop 
That  satisfies  not  while  the  slave-gang  drives? 
Whose  is  the  mercy  that  speaks  in  gyves 
To  those  who  raise  the  hopeless  cry? 
"  Home  to  die !    Home  to  die ! ! " 


[38] 


IN  BELGIUM! 


Yea,  they  come  home  from  the  prison  pen! 
Yea,  they  come  home,  mere  wraiths  of  men ! 
Death  at  their  heels,  as  the  world  may  see, 
But  deathless  their  honor  with  conscience  free, 
Martyred!    as  others  crucify 
With  "  Home  to  die !    Home  to  die ! ! " 


[39] 


TO   FRANCE 


TO  FRANCE 

AFTER  THREE  YEARS  OF  WAR 

KIEIMS  speaks  in  trumpet  tones  though  its 
pale  fane 
Is  mute  and  dark;  Verdun  in  ruins  is  heard 
Above  all  roar  of  guns:  the  fearless  bird, 
'Mid  shrapnel  singing  its  sweet  matin  strain, 
Is  not  more  blithe  than  they  with  this  refrain, 
This  purposed  heart-beat  of  a  winged  word, 
"They  shall  not  pass,"  as  heroes,  uncrushed,  gird 
Themselves  anew,  the  world's  great  end  to  gain. 
O  France — tho'  thy  fair  bounds  are  coarsely  seamed 
With  furrowed  death  where  wild  beasts  still  prevail, 
We,  long  thy  debtors,  hasten  to  thine  aid 
Lest  all  the  things  of  light  and  love  should  fail — 
Live  on!    And  freed  from  Hunnish  dragonnade 
Shed  greater  glory  o'er  mankind  redeemed ! 


[40] 


TO  VENICE! 

TO  VENICE! 

Under  Aerial  Bombardment 

WHAT  are  these  monstrous  shapes  that  foul 
the  blue? 
Where  day  enchants  with  swelling  dome 

and  tower, 
And  night,  moon-quickened,  swoons  with  beauty's 

dower, 

The  world  in  thrall !     What  is  this  fulmined  dew 
That  falls  as  hidden  meteor  hurtling  through 
Rebellious  air?  as  women,  helpless  cower 
Clasping  their  babes  in  fear  of  Hell's  last  hour, 
Evoked  of  Satan  and  his  drunken  crew ! 

Venice,  live  on!    Though  they  are  less  than  kine 
Who  menace,  still  thy  message  unobscured 
Glows  like  a  text  of  gold !     Without  avail 
The  ruin!    Lo,  'tis  palimpsest  divine; 
Each  stone  a  testament  of  things  endured 
That  truth  in  loveliness  may  never  fail! 


41 


TO    GERMANY 


TO  GERMANY 

''""I  r^IS  not  alone  the  sober  reign  of  law 

That  sinks  to  silence,  silence  of  the  tombs, 
As  fierce  Bellona's  murky  touch  illumes 
The  nations,  and  the  sable  curtains  drawn 
O'er  hideous  scenes;  humanity  in  raw 
Mad  for  the  tribute  in  the  gathering  glooms 
At  Moloch's  shrine,  whose  fiery  breath  consumes 
All  things  loved  best,  in  huge  insatiate  maw! 

Why  shriek  ye,  then,  on  street,  the  furious  will 
Of  despot  kings?  why  boast  of  battled  might, 
Greeting  War's  chariot,  with  exultant  breath? 
Through  flames  attend,  as  ministers  of  ill, 
'Tis  not  the  Car  of  Progress,  Car  of  Light, 
O,  blind!  but  lo,  the  Juggernaut  of  Death! 


[42] 


TO   THOSE    AT   REST 


THE   ROLL   OF   HONOR! 


THE  ROLL  OF  HONOR! 

(All  the  English,  French,  and  Italian  Periodicals 
print  regularly  page  groups  of  photographs  of  those 
lost  in  action,  under  the  simple  tribute  of  the  caption 
printed  above.) 

COULD  these  but  speak  would  they  have  aught 
to  say 
But  that  they  gladly  heard  the  call,  and 

went — 

Nor  willed  to  linger  till  old  age  were  spent, 
When  for  their  country  came  th'  unwelcome  day, 
Fate's  fierce  assortal?    No;  far  more  than  clay, 
Knowing  full  well  what  the  shrill  summons  meant, 
They  faced  the  foe,  heart-whole,  with  head  unbent, 
And  took  the  step  that  led  but  one  dark  way! 
THE  ROLL  OF  HONOR!    Yea,  we  too  now  share 
Its  roster;  see  the  same  untroubled  glance 
Of  our  own  dead,  the  names  set  out,  no  more — 
Yet  what  a  blazonry  beyond  compare! 
For  you,  for  me,  for  all,  they  dared,  in  France, 
That,  lo,  new  dawns  shall  break  unfouled  by  war! 


[45] 


IN   MEMORIAM 


IN  MEMORIAM 

To  OP  THE  AMBULANCE  SERVICE  ON  THE 

FRENCH  FRONT 


P^HESE  are  his  things, — not  as  he  went  away, 
Jaunty  and  trim  for  service  but  full  worn; 
Dirt  of  the  road  and  car  and  roughly  torn, 
Yet  telling  of  him,  as  such  remnants  may, 
In  cut  of  cloth,  the  shoulder  slope,  the  play 
Of  greaves  dark-stained,  the  cloak  so  limp,  forlorn, 
Tho'  once  so  fresh,  and  oh,  so  gaily  borne 
By  him  who  knows  at  last  nor  night,  nor  day, — 
Aye,  pack  them  up!    Who  would,  who  could 

destroy? 

Lay  them  hi  cedar  fragrant  as  his  life; 
At  rest,  above  all  time's  requite  and  pain, 
Noble  in  heart  and  soul  without  alloy, 
His  is  the  Kingdom,  free  from  earthly  strife, 
Of  those  who  fought  and  fell  but  not  in  vain. 


[46] 


ORDINARY    SEAMEN 


THE   DEAD 


"Ordinary  Seamen." 

SO  ran  their  service,  no  offense  in  name; 
And  lo,  they  lead  who  were  the  first  to  fall, 
Who  heard,  without  dispute,  their  country's 

call 

And  blithely  followed  when  the  summons  came, 
Untroubled  over  cause  or  counter  claim, 
Knowing  one  flag  unfurled  and  over  all; 
Nor  fearsome  lest  its  folds  should  prove  a  pall, 
They,  recking  little,  found  an  instant  fame — 
O !  when  the  high  and  low  in  greed  of  pelf 
Invite  envenomed  conflict,  class  arrayed 
'Gainst  class,  and  loudly  prate  with  idle  breath 
Of  liberty,  and  yet  know  nought  but  sen*. 
These  are  the  true  exemplars,  who  obeyed; 
In  simple  line  of  duty  met  their  death! 


[47] 


GOING   WEST 


"GOING  WEST."* 

WHERE  clouds  in  breaking  show  a  crystal 
sea 
All  haline  with  the  lights  of  dying  day, 
And  distance,  as  the  last  of  sunbeams  play, 
Drops  into  depths  of  green  eternity, 
And  through  the  "Ivory  Gates"  of  dreams  to  be 
The  purple  barks  of  Charon  'mid  the  spray 
Of  golden  wavelets  drift, — They  take  their  way 
'Mid  earthly  glories  yielding  life's  rich  fee. 
Dust  to  the  dust  and  spirit  to  its  kind, 
Part  of  the  universal  swirl  that  turns 
In  rythmic  motion  ever  'round  the  pole, 
They  are  resolved,  as  heart  that  freely  burns 
With  ardent  love,  into  the  flaming  whole, 
Choiring  at  one  with  everlasting  mind ! 


•In  the  parlance  of  the  men   at   the  front    "going   West"   i*   used 
euphemism  for  dying. 


[48] 


THK  UBKAK1 

OF  CALIFOttNU- 


UOS  ANGELES 


A    001  247  680    o 


PS 
35U5 


